Crime gang ordered to pay £78,000

MEMBERS of an organised crime gang from Warrington have been ordered to pay back thousands of pounds to the courts.
The six men were ordered to pay back a total of £78,951.01 at a Proceeds of Crime Hearing at Warrington Crown Court.
They were convicted and jailed in May for the supply and distribution of Class A drugs in Warrington after being caught following a five month operation by Cheshire Police.
Anthony Cullen was the mastermind behind the organised crime gang. The 24-year-old co-ordinated the criminal network with his close associate Shawn O’Malley.
In October last uyear, O’Malley was arrested following a stop check in Leicester Street, Warrington. At the time he was in possession of almost a quarter of a kilo of cocaine, with a purity of 83 per cent.
Anthony Cullen was with O’Malley at the time but fled from the scene and was later arrested in November last year at his home in Warrington.
Lee Blackmore and Christopher Ellison also had significant roles within the gang. The pair produced the drugs ready for distribution at a caravan site in Rixton.
The movements of the pair were captured on surveillance footage which showed them entering and leaving the caravan. It was inside this caravan where the drugs were produced via a sophisticated set up with numerous pieces of equipment.
Blackmore and Ellison were both arrested at the caravan site. A large quantity of cocaine was recovered of varying weights and purities. Also recovered were a large amount of drugs paraphernalia including scales, blenders, a sieve, a large hydraulic press and plates.
These arrests were then followed by a series of raids on the homes of other suspects in Warrington and at one address in North Wales.
The following confiscation orders were made by the court:
Anthony Cullen, 25, of Dallam Gardens, Bewsey Road, Warrington must pay back £29,762 and is able to pay £675 at present.
Lee Blackmore, 34, of Gaskell Avenue, Warrington must pay back £34,316.17 and is able to pay £645 at present.
Paul Houghton, 28, of Reynolds Street, Warrington must pay back £1,790 and is able to pay £90 at present.
Christopher Ellison, 25, of Bowman Avenue, Warrington must pay back £1,229 and is able to pay £370 at present.
Robert McKenna, 47, of Maes Glan, Dyseth, North Wales, must pay back £1,819.99 and is able to pay £300 at present.
Shawn O’Malley, 24, of Festival Avenue, Warrington, must pay back £10,033.85 and is able to pay £300 at present.
DC Paul Cottrell, of the Cheshire Police Crime Operations Unit, said: “Our work does not end here and the men will owe the remaining money to the courts for the rest of their lives until they can repay the full amount.
“Enquiries will continue to identify assets held by the defendants which can be used to pay off the confiscation orders.”
DI Kevin Bennett, of the Crime Operations Unit, who led the operation, said: “This should serve as a warning to others that crime really does not pay. Cheshire Police is committed to tackling illegal drugs within Warrington. The message is clear – if you involve yourself in drug related activity then you run the risk of not only being sent to prison but also having to pay back any money that you may have benefited from as a result of your crime.
“Information from members of the public is vital in the fight against drug related crime and we would urge the people of Cheshire to support the efforts of local officers. Anyone with any information in relation to suspected drug use or supply is urged to call Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”